Past Southend goal-keepers

[westie]

Not much to choose between Trevor Roberts and Neil Freeman, but I would go for Trevor Roberts.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

didnt Norman Uprichards also play in goal way back when. He couldnt reach the crossbar

Sadly his passing away in 2011 disqualifies him from SUEPA membership

 

[LBBlue]

Best Trevor Roberts by a mile-.

Worst .Brian Lloyd. Always thought he was too short to be a professional but he did have a decent (ish) career with Wrexham and Wales.

How long has 6ft 0” been too short for a keeper, especially 50 years ago? 622 first team games plus 3 caps for Wales. He did a lot better when he had Eddie May in front of him at Wrexham. His trouble here was when he jumped he was still only 6ft tall.

 

[Piledriver]

Harry Threadgold...blind as a bat and loved eating the sweets the kids used to throw into the goal for him!

Lovely fella , Harry used to come into my Aunts cafe on the Seafront, Grilled steak and steamed veg.

 

[Fairport]

Although we have had many excellent keepers over the years, IMO Daniel Bentley was our best. The worst was poor old Ray White who as a youngster was called up to play for the first team as the regular keeper was injured. Ray had a nightmare game and I am not sure if he played any more first team games

 

[Mad Cyril]

I’d bring back Roycey, complete with THAT kit

View attachment 19941

He looks like Joffrey from Game Of Thrones.

 

[LBBlue]

John Keely should have been one of our best if he hadn’t been driven out by the boo boys of their days, went onto drive a taxi was then picked up by Brighton and has made a living out of football as a coach until recently.

Interesting - the results in his last 26 League games for us W0 D9 L17 conceding 56 goals, 17 of which were in his last 5 games in 1984. Pretty hard to survive that.

He did have one decent spell in 81/82 when he was in a run of 12 games without defeat. But then he had Moody and Cusack as centre halves in front of him. Later it was Whymark and Steggles.

Overall he was only on the winning side 12 times in 63 League starts.

If I remember correctly part of his problem was that he didn’t realise that he was short sighted and needed contact lenses- but I may be making that up.

He did do well to make a career out of football after that.

 

[Lincoln Shrimp]

The best in my time have been Paul Sansome, Simon Royce and Dan Bentley.
The worst....take your pick from Mel Capleton, Mark Prudhoe, Carl Emberson, Big Nev and Steve Spildthemall (aside from his wonder save at Stamford Bridge)!

 

[RHB]

Got to be Trevor Roberts. Big, brave and a v good shot stopper. Also I did my early coaching badge training with him, Altogether a really nice bloke, although the only bits that Trevor seemed to like the best was the kickabout game at the end of the sessions because he insisted on playing at centre forward!!

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

I don’t think it was the rarely enforced six second rule but the obscure picking up the ball for a second time.

Was that the match that finally got rid of Alvin?

You're right! My bad.
I do remember phoning Phil Don in the Blues press box for clarification though.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Although we have had many excellent keepers over the years, IMO Daniel Bentley was our best. The worst was poor old Ray White who as a youngster was called up to play for the first team as the regular keeper was injured. Ray had a nightmare game and I am not sure if he played any more first team games

He did have time to concede nine against Brighton in November, 1965, however.
It's the unwanted record for a Blues keeper, poor bloke, although Sammy conceded eight against Palace, lest we forget.
Whenever I catch up with Mark Bright I give him a kick in the shins as a reminder!

 

[JAL]

I know this is very recent, but Nathan Bishop, I would've absolutely loved to see where he could've gone with us - we how much Bentley managed to grow with us, would've loved to see how good of a keeper Nathan could've become.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

The best in my time have been Paul Sansome, Simon Royce and Dan Bentley.
The worst....take your pick from Mel Capleton, Mark Prudhoe, Carl Emberson, Big Nev and Steve Spildthemall (aside from his wonder save at Stamford Bridge)!

Thanks for reminding of the horror that was Carl Emberson.
About five kilos overweight and signed by one of the worst managers ever, Steve Wignall.
My, those were telling times as well...

PS. Julian Hails told me they used to nick Nev's Jaffa cakes in the changing room, and he would go ape****!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Jason Demetriou

 

[Target man]

Sansome/Royce

 

[Tampa Blue]

Budgie, as his enthusiasm and vocal attributes would help organise our inexperienced and currently ineffective back three.

Pretty good keeper as well!!

 

[LCBB72]

In all the years I have been watching Southend it has to be Trevor Roberts a brave fearless goalkeeper who in the end was treated very badly when he was let go at the end of the 1969/70 season . I have always said that it has to be one of the Big Roots Hall Mysterys why the powers to be thought that Brian Lloyd was the better goalkeeper . Having said that John Roberts was not a bad goalkeeper , another badly treated by the club . The worst goalkeeper by a mile has to be Brian Lloyd , You always held your breath when he went for the ball as there was always a good chance he was going to drop the ball .

 

[harveyoe]

It is great to see Harry Threadgold get the first mention on here. A real classy keeper, just a shame that his eyesight started to fail. It was the floodlights which finally finished him I believe.

Also a great entertainer. It was remarkable that he could keep goal and carry on a conversation with the fans behind the goal at the same time. Wouldn't have gone down too well with goalkeeping coaches these days.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

How long has 6ft 0” been too short for a keeper, especially 50 years ago? 622 first team games plus 3 caps for Wales. He did a lot better when he had Eddie May in front of him at Wrexham. His trouble here was when he jumped he was still only 6ft tall.

My memory has him shorter than that (but I'm quite happy to take your word for it).He was still crap though.Agree about EM.

 

[mfurok]

Got to be Trevor Roberts. Big, brave and a v good shot stopper. Also I did my early coaching badge training with him, Altogether a really nice bloke, although the only bits that Trevor seemed to like the best was the kickabout game at the end of the sessions because he insisted on playing at centre forward!!

Spot on.

What a keeper.

What a man.

RIP